Glycolipid and Glycoprotein Expression During Neural Development

Abstract

In mammals, the central and peripheral nervous systems are developmentally derived from cells in the neural plate. Specific ectodermal cells in this area form the neural tube and neural crest during the early developmental stage. The neural tube is the origin of the central nervous system which consists of both the brain and spinal cord, whereas neural crest cells are precursors of the peripheral nervous system. During neural tube formation and neural crest development, carbohydrate-rich molecules, including glycolipids, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans, are expressed primarily on the outer surface of cell plasma membranes. The structural diversity of their carbohydrate moieties coupled with their expression at different stages of development makes these molecules excellent biomarkers for various cell types. In addition, these molecules play crucial functional roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, interaction, migration, and signal transduction. In this chapter, we discuss the expression profiles and potential functional roles of glycoconjugates during neural development.

GM1 Ganglioside is Involved in Epigenetic Activation Loci of Neuronal Cells

“…The outer nuclear membrane is a continuum of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), whereas the inner nuclear membrane is connected with the nuclear lamina. The composition of nuclear gangliosides in the developing brain reflects their composition in the total brain [17, 18], i.e., GD3 is abundant in the nuclear membranes of the embryonic brain and adult brain type gangliosides (GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b) become more abundant in the nuclei of postnatal brain cells [18]. Interestingly, GT3, a member of the c-series gangliosides, is also plentiful in the nuclei of embryonic brain cells, and its concentration is decreased drastically in postnatal-brain nuclei [18].…”

Gangliosides in Nerve Cell Specification

“…89,90 Some GFAP-expressing cells are considered as NSCs as well as astrocytes, and A2B5 + /GFAP + cells have a lipid composition distinct from mature astrocytes, but they are more similar to stem/progenitor cells. 91 In maturing mammalian brain, the concentration of c-series gangliosides decreases drastically, 46,82–84 and this decrease in the synthesis of c-series gangliosides is compensated for by a pathway shift in favor of the accretion of a- and b-series gangliosides. 41,45,46 Glial-restricted precursors (GRPs) have been recognized by the expression of the A2B5 epitope.…”

“…91 In maturing mammalian brain, the concentration of c-series gangliosides decreases drastically, 46,82–84 and this decrease in the synthesis of c-series gangliosides is compensated for by a pathway shift in favor of the accretion of a- and b-series gangliosides. 41,45,46 Glial-restricted precursors (GRPs) have been recognized by the expression of the A2B5 epitope. 92 It is uncertain, however, whether GRPs exist in vivo.…”

Epigenetic regulation of ganglioside expression in neural stem cells and neuronal cells

“…Both GM1 and GD1a have been detected in the inner and outer nuclear membranes [33]. The nuclear distribution of gangliosides in the developing brain reflects their composition in the total brain [2, 34], i.e., GD3 is abundant in the nuclear membranes of the embryonic brain and adult brain type gangliosides (GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b) become more abundant in the nuclei of postnatal brain cells [34]. With regard to gangliosides associated with chromatins, GD3 is reported to interact with histone H1 in the nucleus [35].…”

“…This unique expression pattern of specific gangliosides can be used for specific cell lineage markers and may reflect the functional roles they play in a specific developmental stage. Abundant evidence supports the notion that GSLs, including ganglio-sides, serve regulatory roles in cellular events, including proliferation and neural differentiation, as exemplified by neuritogenesis, axonogenesis, and synaptogenesis [2, 3]…”